Selous Game Reserve Black Rhino!

[Ken Watkins]

The Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania is immense (the size of Switzerland) the photographic area is less than 10% of the entire reserve. The total population of Black Rhino is estimated to be 20, so it was a rare privilege to spot this calf.

Taken on 27th August 2010 at18.02 local time, just before sunset.

EOS 1D MkIV

500mm F4 hand held from pop up roof.

F4, ISO 800, 1/1000

[Harshad Barve]

Looks like you are back from another amazing trip Ken :)

This is excellent image in great light
TFS

[Hilary Hann]

All I can say is that you were incredibly privileged to see this. Well done.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Ken, someone was looking down on you, great privilege as Hilary has said. Might try a tad more USM on the head IMHO and perhaps some more space above? Have you tried converting to B/W, as these, like Elephants really do lend themselves to this treatment. Curious the ISO was 800 with a SS 1/1000 could you not have dropped it?

TFS
Steve

[Egil Droge]

Very lucky to see this guy! 20 is a very optimistic estimate...

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for the comments, the estimate of population came from Tusk.org who run a Rhino project in Selous, our guide had never seen one in his 9 years of going to the park.

Steve,
It was such a rare sighting that I panicked and just took images as we were not sure how it would react to the vehicle, I have a few more yet to be processed. The head has been selectively sharpened

[Rachel Hollander]

Ken - welcome back and congrats on an excellent sighting. Love the head up pose with the grass and the warm light.

TFS,
Rachel

[Grant Atkinson]

Hi Ken, lovely light on a rare animal, especially where you were. If anything, would have been nice to have the other ear perked up too, but well done with this. Nice shot.
TFS
Grant

[Robert Amoruso]

Wonderful light and that grass in the mouth really sets this one apart. nice work.

[Austin Thomas]

A great sighting Ken,

I like the light and the grass in the mouth. I agree that the head needs some more sharpening.

Look forward to seeing more from your trip.

tfs

Austin